Hepatitis C is a liver infection caused by the Hepatitis C virus - and over 3.5 million people in the U.S. have a chronic form of the disease.

People born between Jan. 1, 1945 and Dec. 31, 1965 are at high risk for the disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend those born during this timeframe get screened once for Hepatitis C.

Hepatitis C is usually spread when blood from an infected person enters the body of someone who is not infected. Today, most people become infected by sharing needles or other equipment to inject drugs. However, a person can get the virus through less common means such as sharing personal care items (razors or toothbrushes), or sexual contact with a person infected with the Hepatitis C virus.

For some the disease is a short-term illness, but for 70 to 85 percent of people who become infected, it becomes a long-term chronic infection that causes serious health problems such as liver damage, cirrhosis and even death. Hepatitis C is a leading cause of liver cancer and the most common reason for a liver transplant in the U.S.

People can live with Hepatitis C for decades without feeling sick, with no symptoms and pass it along to others. In fact, most people don't have any symptoms. And there's no vaccine to prevent it. The good news is, chronic infection is now treatable with medication.

In addition to those born between 1945 and 1965, others who should be screened include those currently injecting drugs; have ever injected drugs; have certain medical conditions - such as chronic liver disease and HIV or AIDS; and those who were prior recipients of transfusions or organ transplants before July 1992. A simple blood test can detect the virus, and new medicines are now available.

Find out more about Hepatitis C at www.cdc.gov. Patients can also contact their Medical Home Port team at (904) 542-4677 (hospital) or Naval Branch Health Clinic Jacksonville (active duty only) at (904) 546-7094.

Celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, NH Jacksonville's priority since its founding in 1941 is to heal the nation's heroes and their families. The command is comprised of the Navy's third largest hospital and five branch health clinics across Florida and Georgia. Of its patient population (163,000 active and retired Sailors, soldiers, Marines, airmen, guardsmen, and their families), about 85,000 are enrolled with a primary care manager and Medical Home Port team at one of its facilities. To find out more or download the command's mobile app, visit www.med.navy.mil/sites/navalhospitaljax.

For more news from Naval Hospital Jacksonville, visit www.navy.mil/.